Petunias of the past could n’t handle the heat , but newer kind have better tolerance .
The LSU AgCenter Louisiana Super Plants program has encourage two such improved varieties . First is the Supertunia Vista Bubblegum petunia , one of the good - perform petunias in the landscape . In trials at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station , Supertunia Vista Bubblegum was a top performing artist and is bright pinkish and fecund .
Supertunia Vista Mini Indigo is also a Louisiana Super Plant excerpt . feature little efflorescence , Supertunia Vista Mini Indigo adds a splash of rich purple to the landscape painting . Another great genus Petunia is a unexampled sacking for 2022 : the Capella Hello Yellow . A true yellowed vividness , not typical for petunias . Pair it with the indigo , and you have a great purple and gold combination .
Hello Yellow is a novel press release for 2022 and is a true yellow petunia . picture by Randy LaBauve / LSU AgCenter
Supertunias are durable , outstanding annual bedding plants for all of Louisiana . Petunias are one of the most democratic annuals in house gardens . A French phytologist named Petun discovered these flowers in Argentina in the mid-1800s . This is how the flower got its name . Petun started the flowers from seed he collected and brought back to Europe , where they became pop .
Supertunias are easy - care plants that need little quotidian maintenance . They raise best in full to partial sun in well - drained soils . petunia favour an acidulous grunge in the pH image of 5.5 to 6.5 .
plant grow to an medium altitude of 6 to 12 column inch and can trail up to 2 to 3 feet . The plants should be space 12 to 24 inches apart in the garden . Mulch with pine stubble leave of absence or pine barque to avail uphold a clean appearing of the landscape painting bottom , to minimise wet deprivation , and to help control weeds . Mulches also insulate the soil , keeping root tender when temperature dismiss .
Petunias perform well in both landscape beds and in container plantings . Plants will grow the most flowers if an software of controlled - release plant food is incorporate into the soil at the time of planting for both landscape and container planting .
Petunias in container will involve to be feed more on a regular basis , as nutrient percolate from the containers with every lacrimation . you could feed with a liquid fertilizer every 14 days , or you could apply a controlled , deadening - release fertilizer about every two months . All multifariousness of Supertunias are heavy feeders .
Supertunias have a vigorous growth rate with a mounding , trailing drug abuse . Petunias have been used for their beautiful bloom and colour in the landscape to attract pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbird . Supertunias are ego - cleaning continuous botch , mean they do not have to be deadheaded to further new bloom . Plants are most commonly used as an edge plant or land covert in the landscape painting and as makeweight and spiller in container planting . They are also excellent selections for cling baskets .
Supertunia Vista Bubblegum is an excellent landscape painting have it away works that tolerates the heat . photograph by Heather Kirk - Ballard / LSU AgCenter
If your industrial plant begins to front thin , leggy , or a turn tired , an all - over trim can be good . Use a acute pair of lopper or pair of scissors to cut back up to one - third of the works . After trimming , it is a good practice to apply a water - soluble plant food to put up plants a jump on novel growth and to promote furcate and robust flowers .
Petunias look groovy when mass engraft in the landscape painting bottom for a striking display of color . Plants should be spaced with 18 - inch centers . Petunias work as well in containers and hang baskets where the blossom can cascade down over the edges . Always engraft the transplant at the original cell battalion or pot depth . Both Louisiana Super Plant varieties can commonly be found in 4- or 6 - column inch pots at garden centers .
The more heat - resistant genus Petunia , include Supertunia Vista Bubblegum and Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo , can be over - summer successfully .
Supertunia Mini Vista Indigo is a Louisiana Super Plant selection . Photo by Craig Gautreaux / LSU AgCenter
There are eight serial of Supertunias on the market , and they are categorise by their flower and foliage sizes . The Supertunia Charm and Mini Vista series have miniature efflorescence with a global tracking use of 2 feet and 4 feet , severally . The Supertunia Trailing series has medium - sized flowers with a 6 - foot trailing habit . Suptertunia , Supertunia Double , Supertunia Picasso , and Supertunia Vista all have large flowers and trail up to 4 foot . Supertunia Giant has elephantine flowers with a vigorous trailing habit of 6 feet .
Source : lsuagcenter.com
